Watching From The Shadows: Trident Security Book 5
Page 24
Last month, he’d gotten another tattoo and updated the first one. He’d had Mara’s name, in script, added to the spot under Nina’s angel, so his sister was always watching over her niece. The new tattoo was on his right upper arm and was an intricate design which represented Harper and his D/s relationship, with her name underneath. But the significance of the fancy Triskelion, with three intertwined pieces, would only be recognized by those in the BDSM lifestyle. Harper had gotten a smaller version of the design done on her right ass cheek, with his name, so Marco would see it every time he spanked her.
What Harper didn’t know, was that in his pocket right now was her engagement ring. She’d told him he didn’t need to get her one—that she was happy enough with the collar and a future wedding ring. But, yeah, he wasn’t buying that. Plus, his soon-to-be mother-in-law, along with the women at Trident, would give him hell if he didn’t get her the ring most women dreamed of receiving for most of their lives.
After swearing her to secrecy, he’d taken Jenn shopping with him, to get a woman’s point of view, since he had no clue what to look for. In the end, he’d found the perfect ring. A platinum and gold setting, with a one and a half karat diamond. But his favorite characteristic was the four small stones, two on either side of the diamond—a garnet, aquamarine, emerald, and pink tourmaline—his, Harper’s, Nina’s, and Mara’s birthstones, respectively. He’d even had a baby bracelet made for Mara with the same stones, and it was in his pants’ pocket as well.
He smirked and shook his head at her. “Not too sure about that, Butterfly. You take sexual screaming to a new level. I think I need to start looking at ball-gags for you.”
“Hmmm.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh, my God. Thanks for reminding me. I have to get the rest of the stuff I need for the goodie bags for Kristen’s shower next week. We have them separated—white bags for the vanilla guests and blue for those in the lifestyle. Definitely can’t mix those up, otherwise, there are going to be a lot of confused and embarrassed women out there.”
They’d all been grateful when the ultrasound, which had been done in the emergency room, showed little John Devon Sawyer, or J.D. as he’d already been affectionately dubbed, had not been harmed by the flash-bang grenade or Taser shock. The happy parents-to-be had found out last month they were expecting a boy in about twelve weeks, and Devil Dog was over the moon about it. They had also been relieved to hear Kristen’s ex-husband’s lawsuit for half of her royalties had been ruled in her favor. Tom Rydell wasn’t appealing since he had far bigger problems to deal with, such as the multiple state and federal embezzlement charges which had been filed against him.
Harper glanced at her watch. “We should get going. We don’t want to be late for the ceremony.”
The school where Nina had been a teacher was dedicating a garden memorial in remembrance of the beloved educator and co-worker. The growing family from Trident was meeting them there in an hour, along with students, teachers, and other friends. Even Jake and Nick had flown in for a long weekend to attend. Carter had called with his regrets that he couldn’t attend, but promised to swing by and see it the next time he was in town.
“Before we go…is this it? Are we going to tell Parker we want the house?”
Taking one more quick look around, Harper nodded. “I think so. Everything is brand new and there’s plenty of room. It’s close to the compound. Shelby and Parker live two blocks away. There’s an elementary school right up the street and it’s a quiet neighborhood, so I don’t think we’ll find anything nicer or more ideal than this.”
“Good.” Reaching into the pocket of his dress pants, he made a fist around the ring and pulled it out. Making sure he had a good hold on his sleeping daughter, he went down on one knee in front of Harper, grinning when her eyes almost bulged out of her head. “I never knew what I wanted, before it all fell into my lap out of the blue. I am madly, hopelessly, in love with you, Millicent Harper Williams. I know we did things a little backward, but I’d be honored if you would accept this…” He opened his hand to show her the ring. “…as a sign to the vanilla world that you belong to me. Will you marry me?”
Tears poured down her cheeks as she nodded. Clearly her voice had deserted her. He stood, and with one hand under Mara’s diapered butt, slid the diamond on Harper’s extended left ring finger. He pulled her toward him and gently, and then not-so-gently, kissed her lips until the baby began to stir between them. Reluctantly letting his new fiancée go, he glanced down to see a pair of grey eyes, which matched his own, staring up at him. Lifting Mara over his head with both hands, making her giggle, he grinned at her. “Mommy and Daddy are getting married!”
THE END
COMING SOON
WHISKEY TRIBUTE: A TRIDENT SECURITY NOVELLA – BOOK 5.5
Curt Bannerman never thought he’d have to follow through with a promise to ensure his best friend’s wife and children were taken care of in the event of Eric’s death after the two men retired from the Navy SEALs. But an assassin made the promise a reality. Eighteen months later he’s still keeping an eye on the family, however, somewhere along the line his feelings for the pretty widow have changed.
Dana Prichard had been both a mother and a father for her children during her husband’s multiple deployments, but once Eric retired, she thought those days were over. Now she has to do it with no chance of him ever coming home again. While his SEAL teammates have been there for her since Eric’s death, one of them stands above the rest. The one man who is slowly invading her dreams.
They started as friends, but now, both want more. Can they move past the feelings that they are betraying a dead man by wanting each other? Or is Eric always going to stand between them?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic who has started a third career as an author. She has lived her entire life in the suburbs of New York City and has plans to become a ‘snow-bird’ between New York and Florida. Her two dogs, Jinx and Bella, keep her company and remind their ‘mom’ to take a break from writing every once in a while to go for a walk, of course with them in tow.
An avid reader since childhood, Samantha was often found with a book in hand and sometimes one in each. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens.
Samantha is continuing to work on the Trident Security series, and will be releasing the first book in a new trilogy soon.
OTHER BOOKS BY SAMANTHA A. COLE
The Trident Security Series
Leather & Lace: Trident Security Book 1 (Devon & Kristen)
His Angel: Trident Security Book 2 (Ian & Angie)
Waiting For Him: Trident Security Book 3 (Boomer & Kat)
Not Negotiable: A Trident Security Novella (Parker & Shelby)
Topping The Alpha: Trident Security Book 4 (Jake & Nick)
Coming Soon – Whiskey Tribute: A Trident Security Series Novella (Curt & Dana)
Coming Soon – The Malone Brothers Series
Take the Money and Run (KC and Moriah)
The Devil’s Spare Change (Sean’s story)
The Ultimate Price (Brian’s story)
CONNECT WITH ME
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Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Coming Soon
About the Author
Other Books By Samantha A. Cole
Connect With Me